The World Baseball Classic will begin without either Jurickson Profar or Adrian Beltre participating.

Profar informed the Rangers over the weekend that he's skipping the WBC in an effort to try and make the club out of spring training. Beltre decided to skip the first round because of soreness in his right calf. He could join the Dominican Republic for the second round if he feels better and the team advances.

Profar, who was scheduled to play for the Netherlands, had gone back and forth with the decision. He was originally going to play but then changed his mind. But he started to have second thoughts partly because he was getting pressure to play in his native Curacao.

Now Profar, who turns 20 this week, is focused on trying to win a utility spot for Texas.

"It was a tough decision for him and we left that decision up to him," Texas general manager Jon Daniels said. "He understands the landscape and the situation and he communicated to us that he wants to put himself in the best position to make the club. I give him a lot of credit. It was something he wrestled with and went back-and-forth on and an opportunity to play for his country and with some of his friends he's been working out with all winter and at the same time he's committed to putting himself in position to try to make this team."

Daniels said that Profar's decision doesn't impact his chances of making the team. He also wouldn't handicap the chances.

"He understands that he's competing for a bench role and that it would have to be more meaningful than a traditional bench role to make sense for him," Daniels said. "We'll see. Things happen. He comes out and does what he's capable of doing and demonstrates to the staff that he's someone that can help us and Wash wants him on the club and feels he can find enough playing time for him where it makes sense, then that's something we'll discuss."